The aftermath of the Kogi governorship election has been marred by accusations of cybercrime and hacking by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The APC, which won the election with 56.6% of the votes, has called for the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye, the PDP candidate, for allegedly confessing to hacking into the back-end server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on national TV.
According to Kingsley Fanwo, the spokesman of the APC campaign council, Melaye’s claim is equivalent to “walking into the prison yard and demanding to be locked up.” He said Melaye should be prosecuted for cybercrime, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment or a fine of 25 million naira under the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.
Fanwo also criticised Melaye for suggesting that the INEC Chairman’s children should feel ashamed of him, deeming it as inappropriate, unethical, and immoral. He questioned Melaye’s credibility and character, citing his past controversies and scandals.
“Melaye was never in the race for the governorship. The perennial contestant was in it for business and we do not see his allegations as anything more than the ranting of a thoroughly rejected political jobber,” Fanwo said.
He urged the APC members to celebrate with moderation and remain united as a people. He said the election results showed that the APC was the only party that believed in the unity of the state.
“We won the election and also the battle against those who wanted to drag our state to the dark ages of ethnic division. Kogites, this victory is yours and it will herald fresh air of consolidation and continuity,” he said.
The APC thanked the people of Kogi State for voting en masse for their candidate, Usman Ododo, who is set to be sworn in for his second term on January 27, 2024. They said their victory not only made them happy but gave them more responsibility to continue to provide first-class services and infrastructure to the state.
The PDP, however, has rejected the election results, alleging widespread irregularities, violence, and intimidation. Melaye, who lost his senatorial seat in a rerun election earlier this year, has vowed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election in court.
He said he had evidence of how the APC manipulated the INEC server and rigged the election in their favour. He also accused the security agencies of being complicit in the electoral fraud.
“The people of Kogi State have been robbed of their mandate and their rights. We will not accept this injustice and we will fight for our democracy. We have the proof and we will expose them in due time,” he said.
The INEC has not commented on the cybercrime allegations but has declared the election free and fair. It said it followed the electoral guidelines and ensured transparency and accountability in the process.
The election was held amid tight security and low turnout, as many voters stayed away from the polls due to fear of violence. The election was also marred by reports of ballot box snatching, vote buying, and attacks on electoral officials and observers.
The Kogi governorship election was one of the two off-cycle elections held in Nigeria this year, along with the Bayelsa governorship election, which was also won by the APC. The elections were seen as a test of the popularity and performance of the ruling party and the opposition ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Source: Business Day
